Colombo, May 20: Indian Air Force Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, received a formal guard of honor at the Sri Lanka Air Force headquarters. This reception took place during his official visit to Sri Lanka, which is seen as a significant step towards enhancing defense and diplomatic cooperation between the two nations.
The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka shared details on the social media platform ‘X,’ stating, “The Air Chief Marshal was honored with a guard of honor at the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) headquarters on May 19, 2026, ahead of formal meetings. He subsequently met with the Chief of the Sri Lanka Air Force. He also held discussions with Deputy Defense Minister Major General (Retired) Aruna Jayasekera and Defense Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyakontha.”
Additionally, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh paid homage to the fallen soldiers by laying a wreath at the ‘Indian Peacekeeping Force’ memorial located in Battaramulla.
This visit is occurring amidst ongoing efforts to bolster security cooperation in the Indian Ocean region between India and Sri Lanka. The Indian Air Force Chief is on a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka, aimed at enhancing defense collaboration and improving military coordination. He is scheduled to remain in Sri Lanka until May 21.
In another post, the High Commission noted that Air Chief Marshal Singh received a warm welcome at the Sri Lanka Air Force headquarters, followed by a meeting with the SLAF Chief. He also engaged with Deputy Defense Minister Major General (Retired) Aruna Jayasekera and Defense Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyakontha.
During this visit, Air Chief Marshal Singh discussed strengthening bilateral defense cooperation and enhancing operational coordination with Sri Lanka’s defense leadership. His meetings with the Deputy Defense Minister and Defense Secretary indicate ongoing high-level contacts between the two countries.
This visit highlights the growing defense collaboration between India and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean region. Air Chief Marshal Singh is also expected to meet with the heads of the Sri Lankan Army and Navy and visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
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